Nebraska

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Here's how convinced we are of the SEC closing out the BCS era with its eighth consecutive national title: Four of the top seven teams in the Sporting News preseason Top 25 are from the best conference in the game.

No. 1 is Alabama because, well, you don't really think we're foolish enough to pick against the two-time defending champions. But any of the four in the top seven could win it all.

Here's the best part: The team at No. 2 — the team we expect Alabama to play in the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena — is about as close to an SEC team as you can get.

That's Stanford at No. 2; the big, physical and aggressive Cardinal are primed to take the next step after three straight BCS bowls and their first Pac-12 championship since 1999.

Yeah, the Tide are going for three straight BCS championships. But consider this: They could very easily be playing for their fifth straight. The 2008 team was a game away from an appearance in the BCS national championship game, and the 2010 team was the most talented in the country.

Here’s something that will make you feel old: This fall will be Steve Spurrier’s ninth season in Columbia—and he’ll have his best team yet. After back-to-back 11-win seasons, it’s time to get to a BCS bowl. The question: Which one? Maybe the Big One.

Will Muschamp has the defense figured out, so the loss of coordinator Dan Quinn to the NFL won’t be an issue. What might be an issue is the development of QB Jeff Driskel, who needs help on the outside from young receivers—freshmen Demarcus Robinson and Ahmad Fulwood—to make this team complete.

It’s easy to go unbeaten when there’s zero pressure and you’re playing in a conference that’s in a down cycle—and on top of that, you have the best player on the field week after week. Let’s see what Ohio State can do now that there will be pressure to perform, and in a conference that should be better in 2013.

There are two new coordinators and a handful of questions, but one thing stands out above all: In a league that’s all about who can score more, no one will put up points like the Cowboys. Doesn’t matter who plays quarterback—Clint Chelf or J.W. Walsh, or both.

The Aggies were the story of 2012, but a repeat performance in Year 2 in the SEC won’t be easy. Defenses will have had a full offseason to figure out how to break down the prolific offense. The Aggies still have Heisman-winning QB Johnny Manziel, but they aren’t the novelty of 2012 anymore.

We don’t really know what Mark Helfrich will be like in his first season making every call that matters. We do know, however, that the Ducks have plenty of talent on their roster. That alone should put Oregon in a position to win every time it steps on the field.

Frankly, we’re not comfortable with Clemson here—at some point, Clemson becomes Clemson, does it not? Then again, you have to think either Florida State or Clemson will do what it’s supposed to do, take advantage of a soft league schedule and go unbeaten. This season, it’s Clemson’s turn.

The loss of Everett Golson isn't as big as you'd think. He wasn't a game-changer last season, and would've had to have made a significant jump to be one this fall. ND wins with defense (which will be good to great again) and the running game. Tommy Rees gives the Irish more efficiency in the passing game.

For those who think the Cardinals should be ranked higher based on their Sugar Bowl performance, we remind you that they were playing against an opponent who didn’t care (Florida) and that the Cardinals should have lost to Southern Miss, a team that didn’t win a single game all season, in 2012. That said, star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater could make those qualifiers go away with a few flicks of his wrist. And, you know, Louisville does play in the American Athletic Conference (see: gift-wrapped unbeaten season).

Aaron Murray has put up plenty of big numbers over the last three years, but how many times can you recall him going all AJ McCarron and lifting his team to a win with a terrific individual performance? With a revamped defense, Georgia will need multiple big games from Murray this fall.

The Michigan staff waited too long to pull the plug on the Denard Robinson experiment, and it cost them in 2012. The team is now Devin Gardner’s, which means we’ll finally see a true version of coordinator Al Borges’ multiple offense. The defense still must develop difference-makers in the front seven. Gardner can’t win every game.

As the Longhorns once again try to reinvent the wheel, we are left to come to grips with this: Texas may never again become the dominant force it once was under Mack Brown. And if that’s OK with Texas A.D. DeLoss Dodds and the rest of the Orangebloods, then we’ll just roll through another eight- or nine-win season and call it a day.

As is always the case, the Broncos will go as far as the quarterback position takes them. Joe Southwick was just average last year; he must play better this season for the Broncos to make noise nationally. They also must avoid another conference loss (they’ve had one each in the last three years, by a combined six points) if they want to play in a BCS bowl.

Everything says down year—everything except the overwhelming talent on the roster. The Tigers are young and inexperienced and playing in a brutally tough conference. But if new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron can get QB Zach Mettenberger to play to his enormous potential, LSU can beat anyone in the SEC. But that’s a big if.

Here are the Bears, just three spots down from Texas on this list. How can a team with less talent than Texas, with fewer inherent advantages than Texas, be in the same neighborhood as Texas? It’s mind-boggling—until you meet Bears coach Art Briles and realize his offense and his philosophy fit perfectly with a program that gets stronger each season.

FSU lost everything good (a handful of defensive stars) from a team that was able to compensate for the play of enigmatic QB EJ Manuel. Now, the ’Noles are starting over at quarterback (Jameis Winston or Jacob Coker) with little margin for error.

OU is always OU, but the Sooners haven’t been this overlooked—or underplayed, depending on how you see it—since Bob Stoops arrived in Norman in 1999. That’s because there are plenty of questions, starting with: Can Blake Bell really throw the ball? The last thing OU wants to be in the Big 12 is lacking on offense.

The Bruins should be very good—and QB Brett Hundley could be Heisman Trophy-good—but if the rest of the conference adjusts, the road will get tougher. UCLA is sort of the Pac-12’s version of Texas A&M; what was once all new and shiny and run by a fun quarterback now becomes a weekly grind to find a way to win against highly motivated teams.

We can safely say the Huskers are good for four losses. Under Bo Pelini, they’ve had four losses in each of his five seasons as coach. So pencil ’em in, everyone. And it’s the same story with quarterback Taylor Martinez. The big question: When and where will the Huskers (and Martinez) play to their potential, and who will get walloped because of it?

Somehow, Al Golden and his staff have kept the Miami program from tanking during the uncertainty of an NCAA investigation. The Canes have some significant young talent (tailback Duke Johnson, receiver Phillip Dorsett), so with great coaching, it won’t take long to reemerge in the ACC.

Wasn’t so long ago that Mike Riley was feeling heat for back-to-back ugly seasons, and then 2012 comes along. It’s hard enough winning in Corvallis; it’s harder without a difference-maker at quarterback—something the Beavers lacked (again) last year. Imagine what happens if/when Cody Vaz has a career season.

Bret Bielema left Madison and gave new coach Gary Andersen a loaded roster ready to win now. Every new coach should be so fortunate. Bonus for Wisconsin: Andersen was an overlooked jewel of a coach at Utah State and as Kyle Whittingham’s top assistant at Utah. His style and philosophy will fit perfectly with the Badgers.

Routinely forgotten from the Rebels’ rebound in 2012 are two near wins—a handful of plays could have changed the outcome—against Texas A&M and LSU. In other words, this team is ready to win now, especially with 19 starters returning and the influx of a top 10 recruiting class. But one question remains: Can the Rebels deal with success—and expectations?